Or. Admin. R. 340-202-0050
Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 6, June 1, 2024
Section 340-202-0050 - Purpose and Scope of Ambient Air Quality Standards(1) An ambient air quality standard is an established concentration, exposure time, and frequency of occurrence of an air contaminant or multiple contaminants in the ambient air that must not be exceeded. The ambient air quality standards set forth in OAR 340-202-0050 through 340-202-0130 were established to protect both public health and public welfare. (2) Ambient air quality standards are not generally used to determine the acceptability or unacceptability of emissions from a specific source of air contamination. More commonly, the measured ambient air quality is compared with the ambient air quality standards to determine the adequacy or effectiveness of emission standards for all sources in a general area. However, if a source or combination of sources are singularly responsible for a violation of ambient air quality standards in a particular area, it may be appropriate to impose emission standards that are more stringent than those otherwise applied to the class of sources involved. Similarly, proposed construction of new sources or expansions of existing sources, that may prevent or interfere with the attainment and maintenance of ambient air quality standards are grounds for issuing an order prohibiting such proposed construction as authorized by ORS 468A.055 and pursuant to OAR 340-210-0205 through 340-210-0250, and OAR 340-218-0190. No source may cause or contribute to a new violation of an ambient air quality standard or PSD increment even if the single source impact is less than the significant impact level. (3) In adopting the ambient air quality standards in this division, the EQC recognizes that one or more of the standards are currently being exceeded in certain parts of the state. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the EQC to achieve, by application of a timely but orderly program of pollution abatement, full compliance with ambient air quality standards throughout the state at the earliest possible date. NOTE: This rule is included in the State of Oregon Clean Air Act Implementation Plan that EQC adopted under OAR 340-200-0040
Or. Admin. R. 340-202-0050
DEQ 37, f. 2-15-72, ef. 3-1-72; DEQ 4-1993, f. & cert. ef. 3-10-93; DEQ 14-1999, f. & cert. ef. 10-14-99, Renumbered from 340-031-0010; DEQ 6-2001, f. 6-18-01, cert. ef. 7-1-01; DEQ 7-2015, f. & cert. ef. 4/16/2015Stat. Auth.: ORS 468.020 & 468A
Stats. Implemented: ORS 468A.025& 468A.035